Last week I had surgery and have been on Vicodin to help with the pain. The pamphlet that came with my medication says it causes drowsiness, and so do my family members who have also taken Vicodin at different times.

Instead of drowsiness, I am experiencing a wonderful relief from my EDS...much better than the improvement that I see with my Adderall, and without any side effects. I have had this happen before with previous surgeries while medicated with Vicodin or Percocet, so I know this isn't just a fluke. I'm just wondering why I always have the opposite reaction to these medications and instead of being drowsy I am much more awake and alert.

I tried bringing this up with my Sleep Specialist once and he just said "oh really...that's weird" and didn't seem to know anything about it or look into it any further.

Has anyone else experienced any relief from these medications? or know anything about why this worked so well for me? Any input would be much appreciated!!

OK, I'm going to try reposting this again because I haven't had any responses. Please add some replies...even if you have taken Vicodin, Percocet etc. and not experienced any relief in EDS. All responses are appreciated, even if you didn't have a similiar experience to mine. Thank you!! --lisa

I wouldn't necessarily say the EDS goes away when I'm on Vicodin or Percocet. But I would say that these two medications never make me more tired than I already am. My whole family will tell you both drugs make them terribly sleepy or even knock them completely out. But they don't have this effect on me. I also really don't experience much in the way of pain relief with either medication.

I have not taken pain killers so I cannot speak directly from experience, but -- my guess is that what you are feeling is relief from your body fighting to stay awake. With a sedative, the body is forced to "relax", so all you feel is your mind being tired, but you probably don't feel the tension from your muscles that are instictively tense when the body is physically tired...

I'm probably way off base -- but it's my theory and I'm sticking to it!

Most depressants wire me, from Tylenol PM to Xyrem! I wouldn't doubt that Vicodin could cause the same effect in some people. *shrug* However, I don't believe it is a long term solution! Unless of course you are House, House rocks!

Most depressants wire me, from Tylenol PM to Xyrem! I wouldn't doubt that Vicodin could cause the same effect in some people. *shrug* However, I don't believe it is a long term solution! Unless of course you are House, House rocks!

Chris"Toph4er"

huh, heh, huh, heh -- you said: "House"! (Great episode last night, but this is the wrong thread!)

Haha!! Thanks guys. I love House...that guy is nuts!! I wonder if there is any research being done on this topic. I found one site that said a study was conducted but that the results were inconclusive. I definitely wouldn't want to take pain relievers on a permanent basis, but I wonder if there is something in there (i.e. binding agent, etc) that gives me that boost. I'm going to keep looking into this. Thanks--lisa

I have had back surgery that was a complete disaster. Because of this I am in an extreme amount of pain and take percocet on a daily basis. (I realize this shouldn't be considered for a long term solution but another surgery is not an option at this point). Anyways, back to the topic at hand...when I take my percocet, I too am not as sleepy and even have more energy. Part of this for me I believe is the fact that what little energy I do have isn't being spent on focusing on the pain so it can place itself where it's most needed. Anyways, everyone reacts differently, but like everyone else has said it's certainly not a long term solution.AnnAnd Yes...House Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too get the opposite effect from medication. When I had some dental surgery they put me on percocet and I was painting my house all night long. So wired up. When I have insomnia at night I haven't found anything to work. Tylenol pm and benedryl keep me awake. Let me know what you find out.Silverlining

Oh Yeah! most definately. I tried to get my doctor to scibe them for me, but he just gave me a dirty look. I had that effect with both Perks and Vikes. but I developed an allergy to the perks after one surgery I had. boo! Oh well. Benadryl does the same thing.oh yeah and Flexeril too.I noticed that with alot of drugs that should make me sleepy. except sleeping pills. I tried it just out of curiousity. didn't work.

on the other hand, things that would keep anyone else awake make me fall asleep. like showers and coffee. god I miss coffee.So now I avoid caffiene which is ok I guess, it is not good for you anyway. And the showers are part my non-med routine. If I am having trouble sleeping because of my RLS, I can go sit in the shower for awhile and come out and fall right into my bed. It's great.

The thing is Vicoden is a very strong pain killer you really get it when you like "holy crap I'm gonna die" kind of pain is going on. If we were taking meds that strong just to stay awake we would eventually develop a tolerance for it. So then what are we suposed to take when we get the big Owies? A whole bottle? *boom* *pow* there goes our livers! Not to mention we would NEVER POOP AGAIN! The side affects are tolerable for short term oops I just broke my arm use. But in reality, it would be very bad to take meds like that all the time.

Also if you were taking pills like vikes or perks all the time you could say step on a rusty nail and never know it. doesn't sound like a good scene.

There has to be something though, some chemical or something they can find in those drugs narrow it down or something, if there are more than one of us experiencing this. Honestly it never occurred to me to ask about this here cuz I assumed I was the only one and a total freak or something. Thats how my doc acted when I brought it up anyway!

I've been on a number of pain management medications (vicodin, darvocet, codeine etc) over the years due to various surgeries and a slipped disc in my lower back and I can say without a doubt that they still knock me out.

Last week I had surgery and have been on Vicodin to help with the pain. The pamphlet that came with my medication says it causes drowsiness, and so do my family members who have also taken Vicodin at different times.

Instead of drowsiness, I am experiencing a wonderful relief from my EDS...much better than the improvement that I see with my Adderall, and without any side effects. I have had this happen before with previous surgeries while medicated with Vicodin or Percocet, so I know this isn't just a fluke. I'm just wondering why I always have the opposite reaction to these medications and instead of being drowsy I am much more awake and alert.

I tried bringing this up with my Sleep Specialist once and he just said "oh really...that's weird" and didn't seem to know anything about it or look into it any further.

Has anyone else experienced any relief from these medications? or know anything about why this worked so well for me? Any input would be much appreciated!!

Hi

I put this on another post but,I take codiene 30 mgs 4x a day for 2 years, before that I took it 3xs a day. Your right it works better that the rest of the stuff. I also go back and forth from ritalyn and adderall. But My old doc Dr Collin Bamford at the university of arizona did a study with codiene and thats how I started it. They did this I think in the late 80's. There are a couple others out there but not many. See if you can find the article on one of the sites that do research and put in a search under his name you should get it right away. If you cant than let me know I can find it, or I have a copy of a letter he wrote for me and the codiene recommendation is in it I could make a copy you can takeas proof that it is prescribed for narcolepsy. But you do build a tolerance to it, I usually have to g a few days a month without it, but it is no more addicting than the stuff we normally get and it is probably easier on your body. good luckDeb

Last week I had surgery and have been on Vicodin to help with the pain. ...Instead of drowsiness, I am experiencing a wonderful relief from my EDS...much better than the improvement that I see with my Adderall, and without any side effects.

Has anyone else experienced any relief from these medications? or know anything about why this worked so well for me? Any input would be much appreciated!!

Yes, I've recently discovered that opiates work for me, too. See my post in the other thread (a reply to Deb): http://narcolepsynet.......

If you and/or Deb want to get in touch so we can discuss this further, feel free to message me.

Some herbal relaxants (apparently) relieves some of the symptoms of N.Like Valerian.But I usually don't get close to any form or relaxants since most will exacerbate my EDS a dozen-fold.

I do have some medical-contraditions for example: if I take Ritalin I can actually fall asleep faster (ie when trying to fight insomnia). But something rings wrong about doing this, so I try to keep it to a minimum. Also sometimes when I do that I wake up feeling pretty eeky.

I tried strong CODEINE once but while that felt "nice" I remain put: no increase or deacrese in sleepiness.

Hi,Yes, I have experienced relief from EDS while taking vicodin too. In fact, long before I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder, I was claiming to be more active and feel more energetic while taking it. I haven't taken vicodin in years so, until I ran across your post, I had forgotten all about that extra benefit. As far as how things are for me in general, after nearly a year since being diagnosed, most things are, without a doubt, a good deal better than they were prior to diagnosis. At this point, I can typically count on at least some good hours scattered throughout any given day but I still don't have much confidence in being able to predict much beyond that. Eventhough I am taking Adderal, Xyrem and prozac, there are very few days that my ability to function reaches any sort of level or standard that I would consider acceptable. (especially on a more long term basis) Unfortunately, I still struggle with one symptom or another on pretty much a daily basis and my ability to manage and maintaining much of routine or schedule continues to be a challenge. ...If I continue to put forth an effort, I'm hoping things will continue to improve. Good luck to you!Annie

I have the same effect from certain pain meds. The first dose i take will put me to sleep, the next dose, look out because i will be awake for dayssssss!!!!! its not so bad except i am usually awake all day and ALL night. even my regular sleep meds wont put me out then. so i just try and stay away from all of it. new to working on this..trying to figure out what i should do first...anyways..just thought i would put in my two cents

I take Vicodin once a day for my severe Bursitis in my hips and I too experience a very nice boost of energy and man does my house get clean.

On the other hand if on somedays the pain isn't relieved by one tablet and I have to take an additional 1/2 or whole pill look out because I am going down for the count and quick.

I will say though please be very careful with this drug it can be incredibly addictive as I well know with my sister who is currently in treatment for addiction to this med from a surgery that she had a while back.

Interests:I just found this site today, and am very thankful that I did. Today, I have been feeling overwhelmed by this disease; so, it is good to know that I am not alone. All my life, I have been easily tired and needed more sleep than most people, but I just thought it was my metabolism or that I was just lazy. I am 59 years old, and only got my diagnosis of narcolepsy less than a year ago. I can remember complaining of feeling tired all the time, but the doctors usually recomended a healthier life style ie lose weight. I did, then found it was the eating all the time that had kept me awake to drive, to work,even to read a book.

Posted 20 August 2008 - 07:26 PM

Today I got a letter asking for a contibution to Narcolepsy Network, and noticed a statement, "sensivity to anesthesia and paradoxical reactions to opiates and synthetic opiates is common in narcolepsy with cataplexy." This is on am appropriate emergency care card.

I haven't been on the website for a while. Thank you all sooo much for your replies on this topic. I really appreciate each of you taking the time out to help me out and it is so refreshing to know that I am not alone on this subject. I appreciate each and everyone of you and hope you are all doing well!! Thank you all, Lisa

My doctor said he prescribes vicodin, percocet, codeine etc for PWN. I had vicodin after surgery and only took it briefly because it caused me to experience severe anxiety and even hallucinations but maybe that was because I mixed it with benedryl.